— Playmobil and the European Space Agency (ESA) have returned to the red planet.

The German toy company and international space exploration organization have built on their existing successful partnership to introduce a new series of Mars-themed toys based on ESA's current missions and its vision for humanity's future on the next planet out from the sun. Playmobil and ESA earlier worked together on Mars play sets before more recently turning their attention back to the moon.

The new "ESA Space Range by Playmobil" adapts realistic elements from mission plans, planetary science and robotics to shape four new products.

"This collaboration embodies the spirit of ESA Strategy 2040: opening Europe's space ambitions to society through partnerships, innovation and education," Anne-Sophie Bradelle, head of ESA's communication department, said in a statement. "By transforming scientific missions into hands-on play, we're helping young Europeans see themselves in the future of space."

ESA's Strategy 2040 puts an emphasis on "strengthening Europe's role as a leading space power" through expanded industrial partnerships and deeper public engagement.

Introduced on Jan. 9 in stores across Europe, the ESA Space Range is also available in other markets around the globe, including in Mexico and the United States. Leading the collection is the $59.99 "Mars Research Rocket," a modular spacecraft equipped with a docking platform and crane arms to lift and store precious soil samples.

The rocket, which stands tall enough to require a cherry picker for the included two Playmobil astronaut figures to reach the crew spacecraft, shares similarities with real-world vehicles like SpaceX's Starship.

The $29.99 "Mars Exploration Rover" features some of the same tools — including a drill, cameras and sensors — that will be used to search for evidence of past or present life when ESA's ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover lands on the planet in 2030. The $24.99 "Space Glider" taps into the advancements in aerial exploration for a futuristic way to make geological discoveries.

The fourth of the four new sets, the $16.99 "Astronaut with Robot," merges human ingenuity with robotic assistance to explore areas otherwise out of reach.

"Working closely with ESA allows us to create toys that are inspiring, scientifically grounded and packed with play value," said Bahri Kurter, CEO (Vorstand) Playmobil. "We want children not just to play, but to wonder — to imagine what it might feel like to explore Mars for real."

In 2021, Playmobil and ESA released a co-branded "Mars Expedition" play set that included two Playmobil ESA astronauts, an ESA-branded Mars rover with working light and sounds, a Mars trike, a drilling station and an ESA research laboratory. The $64.99 set is no longer for sale.

Then last year, the partners debuted the "Playmobil Starter Pack Space Mission," which was inspired by ESA's plans to explore the moon. The $22.99 set is still available, although it is not part of the new ESA Space Range.

The Playmobil and ESA collaboration has gone the other way, too. In 2019, ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano debuted the ESA (and ASI, or Italian Space Agency)-branded Playmobil figure on board the real International Space Station. The two flown figures, which were made to look like Parmitano, were part of a run that packaged the spacesuited figure with an issue of Playmobil magazine.